Pumpkin is in season but what to do with the pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds are rich in antioxidants, iron, zinc and magnesium. Did you know that pumpkin seeds are an absolute taste maker when making a pasta pesto?
Pumpkin seed pasta pesto with fresh carrot salad
Rated 4.7 stars by 3 users
Servings
2
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Pumpkin is in season but what to do with the pumpkin seeds? Pumpkin seeds are rich in antioxidants, iron, zinc and magnesium. Did you know that pumpkin seeds are an absolute taste maker when making a pasta pesto?
Author:Happie Chef Eva
Ingredients
spelt pasta
pumpkin seeds
dried tomatoes
1 small jar yeast flakes
- ½ bunch parsley
½ lemon juice
3 tablespoons of olive oil
- salt, pepper
carrot (grated)
½ bunch parsley
½ lemon juice
1 tablespoon of olive oil
salt, pepper
For the pesto pasta
For the carrot salad
Directions
For the pesto pasta
Pour hot water over the dried tomatoes.
In a frying pan, toast the pumpkin seeds, stirring, until they puff up and begin to crackle. Set aside 1 tablespoon of the seeds. Place the remaining pumpkin seeds in a blender.
Coarsely chop ½ bunch of parsley. Drain the water from the dried tomatoes and chop them. Add the parsley, nutritional yeast and dried tomatoes to the blender with the pumpkin seeds. Add the olive oil and blend until smooth (don’t worry if not completely smooth yet, as in the next step you will add extra water). Season the pesto with lemon juice, salt and pepper.
In a large pan, boil plenty of water for the spelt pasta. Cook the pasta al dente. Remove 40ml of the pasta cooking water and mix the pesto with it until creamy. Drain the pasta, then mix with the pesto.
Arrange on plates and sprinkle with the remaining pumpkin seeds.
For the carrot salad
Grate the carrots in fine pieces with a grater or sharp knife (if you have a food processor, shred the carrots in a food processor). Chop ½ bunch of parsley finely. Mix together.
Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the juice of ½ lemon. Bring to taste with salt & pepper.
Recipe Note
- Pumpkin seeds are rich in vitamins and minerals like manganese and vitamin K, both of which are important in helping wounds heal. They also contain zinc, a mineral that helps the immune system fight bacteria and viruses.
- If you have some leftover pesto, you can also use it as a tasty spread on sandwiches.